Danger - Experimental

I loved hanging out in the experimental aircraft hangar at the AF museum. I kept thinking "yes, these are my people" (even though I've never done experimental aircraft work, I do tend to be on the experimental side of technology). That's where the excitement and challenge and opportunity seems to be.

I think this warning sign just about says it all.

Experimental Aircraft?

In the "What's That Doing Here?" category, I snapped this photo of a truck inspired by a covered wagon (yes, the side panels are even made of wood) in the Air Force Museum's Experimental Aircraft hangar... Yup, right alongside all the high-tech, advanced fighter jets.

WARNING!

I'm glad they warned me. I tightened my belt just to be extra safe.

Freedom Of Speech

Long time readers of this blog might recall the "flower pot" pictures I posted last year (it's a toilet in someone's front lawn, with fake flowers in the bowl).

Well, the people who live in the flower pot toilet house periodically drag out this sign to the edge of the road. I have lots of questions, but I haven't called the number yet.

It's a hand painted sign. It must have taken quite a long time to make. I'm not quite sure if the sign's author was inadvertently on the receiving end of stolen property, or had some property stolen and sold by the thief, or what...

Like I said, I have questions. Not sure I want to call the number tho...

Microfinance Loan Update

Just got a note from the nice people at Kiva.org, letting me know they received this month's payment on the microfinance loan I contributed to. I have now received back $6.25 of the $25 I loaned out (my $25 was combined with funds from several other lenders, for a total of $950).

I mentioned last month that Mrs. Adedeyinbo was only able to pay 97% of her first monthly payment ($115 instead of $118, which came to $3.03 for me). Well, this month she paid $122, completely making up the shortfall from the first month.

As I said last month, I wasn't worried about the shortfall because a) 97% is pretty close to 100 and b) she had several months ahead to make up the $3 shortfall. It seems my confidence in her ability to repay the loan was justified. Of course, we'll see how things go between now and December, when the loan is supposed to be paid in full. I'm optimistic things will work out as planned.

I'll keep you posted.

(Check out Kiva.org if you're interested in learning more about microfinance or making a small loan to an entrepreneur yourself).

Planes With Teeth

I love planes with teeth. I think the military should paint teeth on as many planes as possible. I'm also a fan of nose art in general, a practice that has sadly fallen out of favor.

I took these shots at the AF Museum's experimental aircraft hanger.



OK, this next one is actually not a plane (it's some kind of missile), but it does have teeth:

Good Advice

I had the opportunity to bang around the AF Museum's Experimental Aircraft hanger last week. Many of the aircraft and various pieces of equipment have interesting warnings, and this one in particular kinda jumped out at me:

I always try to avoid operating in an explosive atmosphere, but it's good to be reminded every once in a while.

Keeping It In Perspective

I recently read a National Geographic article about variations in solar output. Apparently there's been an unexpected /unexplained lull in solar activity lately. We're not quite sure how long it will last or what that will do to the Earth's temperature. Scientists were very careful to point out that this would not necessarily solve the global warming problem. In fact, they seemed quite sure it wouldn't help much, despite headlines hinting at a "little ice age."

Now, I'm what you would call not a global warming skeptic. I don't think the evidence for mankind's role in planetary heating is irrefutable, but it seems strong and the scientific consensus is quite firm. But that's not what this post is about (and please, let's don't debate humanity's role in global warming in the comments today). I just want to take a look at what one of the scientists said.

Mike Lockwood, a solar terrestrial physicist at the University of Southampton in the U.K, explained that a small dip in solar output is not as significant as a large increase in CO2 production. He was quoted as saying:

"I think you have to bear in mind that the CO2 is a good 50 to 60 percent higher than normal, whereas the decline in solar output is a few hundredths of one percent down. I think that helps keep it in perspective."

Um, no it doesn’t. A small percentage of a large number might be much larger than a large percentage of a small number. For example: one hundredth of one percent of 100,000 is 10, but 50 percent of 1 is only .5. 

So, if the sun's huge output is decreased by a tiny fraction, that could theoretically mean the amount of heat it is not sending our way could equal or exceed the extra amount of heat being retained by increases in greenhouse gases. It might be sending 10 fewer units of heat our way, while the increased amount of C02 in the atmosphere is saving an extra 0.5 units. That's a net loss of 9.5, for those of you keeping score at home. Keep in mind, these numbers are notional - I'm just trying to make the point that his explanation doesn't "keep it in perspective" the way he thinks it does. And it bugs me that he thinks it does.

I suspect Dr. Lockwood actually did the math before he concluded that the solar lull's affect does not balance out the impact of all that extra C02. He's a solar terrestrial physicist, for goodness sake. Those guys aren't shy about doing the math. I just wish his explanation of how these two quantities relate to each other was (with all due respect) a little more correct.

Don't Drink The Water!

What does it mean when a hotel gives you free high-speed internet access but puts little signs on bottles of water in the room that say "A $5 charge will be added to your bill upon consumption."

Huh...